A WARM & SUNNY MANILVA ON SUNDAY:

SUNDAY 4^th/ NOVEMBER 2018.

Just a little lie in this morning as we had to get the ‘ Sunday Roast’ on the go ,after a quick freshen up and toast & tea. The village is very quiet, the ‘ Church Bells ‘ calling the faithful to mass have just started!

I first prepared the ‘ Roast Lemon Chicken’ – I take off the Legs,Thighs & Wings, then season them along with the ‘Crown of Chicken’ with Sea Salt & Lots of Lemon Juice, the ‘ Trivets’ ( Chopped assorted Vegetable ends etc) are browned-off in Vegetable Oil and then I ‘Roast’ the Chicken in a hot oven, covered first, then uncovered and basted to brown-off! I also made the 'Mixed Herb & Chestnut Stuffing' 

See below;

Meanwhile the ‘ Vegetable Chef’ was preparing ‘ Florets of Broccoli & Cauliflower in a Three Cheese sauce, Glazed Baby Sprouts, Crushed Carrots & Turnips, Creamed Leeks & Garden Peas, her famous ‘ Mashed Potato’ was made from the Potato trimmings, the ‘Roast Potatoes’ are sliced in half & par-boiled, shaken and then placed in the savoury ‘Chicken Oil’ to go in the over this evening, finally I made my famous ‘ finger-licking ‘Pan Gravy’- in the ‘Roasting Tray’ – using a strong ‘ Chicken & Vegetable stock!

See below;

This morning the sun was out, again, early and the sky is bright blue, there is a slight breeze, so by lunchtime it’s due to reach 22 degs, next week the breeze is getting up and bringing with it some of the ‘wet-stuff’ as well as a little cooler weather, overnight hovering on the 12/13 degs mark, going down to 17/18 degs at times during the day, even cooler by next weekend, watch this space.

Just a quick update on the sports results from yesterday; Everton won 3-1, Liverpool drew 1-1, Real Madrid won 2-0 & Barcelona won 2-3 against the lowest team in ‘   La Liga’ Wales won 21-10, Ireland won 54-7 and England won 12-11 – after a very lucky end to the match!

Last night after super we watched the final episode of “ Killing Eve “ – as the female assassin escaped, after being stabbed by the female ‘MI5’agent, after more shootings & killings, ‘ Viianelle’ has disappeared, to be pursued once again in season two!!  Watch this space.

While I have been typing/posting today’s Blog I have been listening to the ‘Pete Black Retro Roadshow’ on ‘ Castle Radio FM 89.2 & Online on the WWW’ – he has a new ‘ Film Quiz ‘ when he plays the soundtrack of a movie, you have to get the movie and the main actor, I got it straight away, it was “ O Brother, Where Art Thou “ starring George Clooney ! I’m in the draw for the ‘ Mug’ He also played a track for us!!

Thoughts for the Day; See above.

...

THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY FROM A VERY SUNNY MANILVA;

..

A WARM & SUNNY MANILVA ON SATURDAY.

SATURDAY 3^rd/ NOVEMBER 2018.

We had a nice, long, lie in this morning, in fact we overslept! The village is very quiet, no children playing, no traffic or deliveries, no Church Bells ,until later!! After freshening up we had a late breakfast of ‘Campo’ Poached Eggs on Toast, Scrambled for Brenda with Toast Fingers, with mugs of strong, sweet Tea. The Eggs were given to us the other day from Lumy ( ex Bar Rojas) from their ‘ Campos’ over in Estepona!


See below;

Its’ a beautiful day down here on the ‘ Costa Del Sol’ – the sun broke through earlier, the sky is blue, there are no clouds or breeze, so it’s going to be warm & sunny, by lunchtime hovering on 20 degs+ - tomorrow even warmer, next week is starting a little cooler, as the breeze pick up, down to 16/17 degs, overnight into single figures, with the threat of the ‘wet-stuff’- then settling down again, before next weekend when the rain could return, meanwhile over in Everett, Ontario, Canada, the folks( Bill!) are preparing to put the snow tires on their vehicles, watch this space.

We have had a nice, long, news update from Sandra & Bill, after they returned from their two-week holiday down here in sunny Manilva, they suffered from the time-change, as they had a busy week of work, this weekend they are taking things easy, the trailer is going “ to bed “ – all the leaves need collecting and their clocks go back THIS weekend!

For our supper this evening we are having a large ‘ Grilled Rib of Beef- on the Bone’ – cooked ‘ Med-Rare’ – then left to rest, before slicing it into fingers ‘French’ style, garnished with seared Asparagus Spears & Button Mushrooms, with ‘ Cruzcampo Beer Battered Onion Rings’ – accompanied with a classic ‘Bearnaise’ sauce. Served with Whole French Green Beans & twice-cooked ‘Pont Neuf’ Chips!

On Sunday it’s going to be a ‘Roast Lemon Chicken’ with a savoury ‘Mixed Herb & Chestnut’ stuffing, the warm Chestnuts are from the local ‘Chestnut Man’ down on the Plaza de la Vendemia! Served with a large selection of fresh, local Vegetables, with ‘Roast Potatoes’ using the roasting juices/fat from the Chicken ( still no Duck Fat ) - not forgetting my famous ‘finger-licking’ Pan Gravy!

On the sports front this weekend; Over in the ‘Premier League’ Everton are at home to Brighton & Hove Albion, Liverpool are travelling down on the train, from Lime Street Station, to play Arsenal, on Sunday Manchester City welcome Southampton, in ‘ La Liga’ Real Madrid are at home to Real Valladolid & Barcelona travel to Rayo Vallecano.

The ‘ Rugby Union Internationals’ are starting today, with Wales v Scotland, England v South Africa & Ireland v Italy, this afternoon also there is ‘ National Hunt Racing’ from Ascot & Wetherby.

After supper we will be watching the final episode of “ Killing Eve “ as its reaches the climax, watch this space.

THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY FROM SUNNY MANILVA;

...

A VERY COLD & CRISP SUNNY MANILVA ON FRIDAY AT THE START OF THE WEEKEND.

FRIDAY 2^nd/ NOVEMBER 2018.

We were both up early this morning and after a quick freshen up we shot off on our travels, down to Sabinillas for the weekly shopping, ‘ItZabar’ was closed so we had a quick coffee & tostada in a local Bar, then I went into ‘ Mercadona for our main shop and Brenda went along to the ‘ English Bookshop’ for the local newspapers and most of her ‘Xmas/Birthday cards, Steve was delighted to see her, as she was his best customer of the day, so far!

We then met up and I shot along to the local market, at the far end of the promenade, for our fresh flowers & wall plants, Brenda had a quick look around the market stalls, before we shot back up the hill, through the Vine Fields, to unload back at the house, I then put the car away in the underground car park.

This morning has started very cold & ‘ crisp’ with a stiff breeze blowing in from across the Mediterranean, the sky is clearing and the sun has just broken through, by lunchtime it’s forecast to rise to 21 degs+ - yesterday it went very hot & sunny, as there was no breeze, over the weekend we are in for more of the same, with patchy clouds at time, but still hovering in the low 20s, next week is staying dry & sunny, with just the slight chance of some of the ‘ wet-stuff’ – but going a little cooler as the breeze pick up, we have put all the fans away and the two Oil Heaters are out & ready, watch this space.

Sabinillas beach this morning!

Next week we are having our ‘ Anti-Flu ‘ injections, down at the main Medical Centre, in Sabinillas, on Monday evening, I have an appointment with our Doctor, Natalia, on Wednesday morning, for a review/check up, I will also arrange a blood test, for my appointment with the ‘ Prostate Consultant’ at the start of December, we are still waiting to hear from the ‘ Costa Del Sol Hospital’ for Brenda’s appointment with the ‘ Heart Consultant’ and my visit for some ‘Rehabilitation’ on my hand! Watch this space.

This evening for our supper we are having ‘Fillets of Hake’ deep-fried in a ‘ Cruzcampo Beer Batter’ – served with ‘ Mushy Peas’ & twice-cooked ‘Chips’ – lots of Lemon Wedges on the side and not forgetting the Homemade ‘Tartar’ sauce!  

On Saturday it’s going to be a large ‘ Grilled Rib of Beef – on the Bone’ with all the trimmings,  for our ‘ Roast’ on Sunday I bought a fresh, local Chicken, which we will have with a selection of fresh, local Vegetables etc, with a savoury ‘Mixed Herb’ Stuffing & Pan Gravy and of course ‘Roast Potatoes’ sadly not with ‘ Duck Fat’ – but still ‘ crisp’ & ‘ fluffy’!!

After supper yesterday evening we settled down to watch the second episode of “ Dark Heart ‘ – it turns out that each two-part episodes are complete, with two more to come, it all got very exciting as the copper with cough, who has terminal cancer, was the killer/vigilante ( I guessed this last night!) – our ‘hero’ Detective, with problems, managed to stop him using the chainsaw, the killer was helped by an ex-cop, along the with the families that had been affected, by the paedophiles, will he now carry on with his hunt for the killer of his parents 16 year ago?! Watch this space.

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

...

THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY FROM SUNNY MANILVA;

...

A VERY CRISP & SUNNY MANILVA ON THURSDAY.

THURSDAY 1^st/ NOVEMBER 2018.     “ DIA DE TODOS LOS SANTOS “

Another short lie in this morning after a good un-interrupted night’s sleep, as the severe storm had moved away, it started in the late afternoon, with lots of fork lightening & thunder, that shook the house, then it rained, non-stop, for over three hours, so no children out ‘door-knocking’ for Halloween!

Today, here in Spain, it’s a ‘ National Bank Holiday ‘ for ‘ All Saints Day ‘ a day of remembrance in honor of all deceased relatives & friends, when they decorate the graveyard with many flowers.

After freshening up, as the ‘ Head Chef’ was on the breakfast rota, we had his now famous ‘ Toasted Crispy Smoked Bacon Butties’ – smothered  in ‘ HP’ Brown sauce – open on brown for Brenda, with mugs of strong ‘Tetley’( thanks Sandra!) tea!

We then got the shopping list ready for tomorrow morning, when we are out on our travels down to Sabinillas, for the weekly shopping, Brenda is going along to the ‘ English Bookshop’ for her main family & friends Xmas Cards! Watch out you could be on the list!!

This morning the sun has broken back through and the sky is clearing, with just a few patchy clouds, there is a light breeze, making it still ‘ crisp’ but sunny, raising to 18/19 degs by lunchtime, over the next few days its staying the same, even getting a little warmer, as the weekend goes on, hovering on the 21 degs+ mark, warm for the time of the year, next week is now looking a little more settled, but cooler, as the breeze gets up, with just the threat of the wet-stuff at times, watch this space.

See below the “ Ffestinog Railway “ trains crossing the ‘ Cob’ yesterday out of Porthmadog and down from Blaenau Ffestiniog, in North Wales.

At lunchtime we went up to ' Bar Rojas ' for a nice cool drink & Tapas, we sat in the very hot sunshine, taking in the tranquillity of sunny Manilva on a beautiful day! 

For our supper this evening we are now having the rest of the ‘ Chicken & Mushroom Tarragon Casserole’ with more ‘ Parsley New Potatoes’ – the fresh, local ‘Brussels Sprouts’  were very tasty and were cooked to perfection by the ‘ Vegetable Chef’ – I’ve never eaten so many! 

On Friday it’s a ‘Fish n’ Chip’ supper, then on Saturday it will be ‘ Steak Night’ – we are now going to have a ‘ Roast Local Chicken ‘ on Sunday with all the trimmings, the only problem is that the ‘English Butcher’s’ are still waiting for their ‘ Duck-Fat’ delivery?! ( Roast Potatoes) Watch this space.

Last night after supper we settled down to watch the first episode ( the second is tonight) of “ Dark Heart “ – a crime/revenge drama based in London, strong stomachs are called for, as the main Detective ( Tom Riley )- called back from his holiday, investigates sadistic vigilante killings, of justice-evading paedophiles, with torture and a blow torch used!

The Detective has his own problems, he drinks too much, lives in the abandoned house of his brutally slain/murdered parents, the killer was never apprehended, 16 years ago, he has a sister, who is being knocked about by her boyfriend and a partner ( Anjli Mohindra) in the Police squad who fancies him, as well as a girlfriend! We can’t wait for tonight’s episode, as there is another killing, this time with a ‘ Chain-Saw ‘ !!  Watch this space.

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

...